The Effects of Solution-Oriented Intake Questions on the Perception of Hope

Darrell L Franklin, Purdue University

Abstract

This study examined intake paperwork as an intervention in therapy. Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) centers around the co-construction of reality through language with an emphasis on goals and the future. Medical model centered intake paperwork is seen as counter-productive for therapists using post-modern approached like SFBT. Ten intake paperwork related items were question tested for their effects on perceived hope and self-efficacy. Five problem oriented intake paperwork items and five solution-oriented intake paperwork items were evaluated by survey participants (n = 49) as to how each item would change their perception of state hope and self-efficacy using four questions from the state hope scale and two from the general self-efficacy scale. Solution-oriented questions were perceived as increasing state hope and self-efficacy while problem oriented questions were perceived as decreasing state hope and self-efficacy. In a paired sample t-test, the five solution oriented items were superior in increasing hope on all six evaluation questions. As hope is an important factor in therapy, solution-oriented items are seen as being possibly beneficial to clients and clinicians in post-modern, solution-focused practices. More research is called to establish a complete solution-oriented intake and to test that complete solution-oriented intake against a full length medical model intake to understand how each affects the client perception of hope.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Pavkov, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Behavioral Sciences

COinS